Eat Pray Love – The beautiful Lie

It is always dangerous to mix a whole lot of truth with a profound lie.

Have you ever eaten something delicious lets say, a perfect omelet and all of a sudden there is a “crunch” (hidden piece of eggshell)?  That moment quickly goes from deeply satisfying to “gross”.

Watching Eat Pray Love was a similar experience on a spiritual level.  Exotic locations, some insightful tidbits of truth and an excellent actress – Julia Roberts all wrapped up in one big hideous lie.

I often told my children when they were young that the best of all lies that our culture feeds us will have many wonderful truths with one poisonous ingredient in the middle of it all.  I once baked brownies as a lesson for my small group with the instructions that no one was to taste them till the end of the lesson and hoped they would all listen.  Because though I placed delicious and wonderful ingredients in the brownie mix, I also told them that I added 1 TBS of dog crap at the end.  No worries they would barely taste it.  I laughed to find one boy chocking and wanting to throw up since he ate one behind my back.  No I didn’t really add it, but it was a valuable lesson.

We should be hesitant to add things to our theology that can contaminate our understanding of God as He has chosen to reveal Himself through His Word. But on the other hand, I’m not interested in becoming like the Amish and going to hide from the culture or our society.

Just know the truth.

Jesus is the Only Way, Truth and Light.

We don’t break things to find brokenness.

We don’t follow our lusts to fulfillment.

We don’t surrender to our desires; we surrender to Christ’s rule.

If you want to EAT – Eat His Word

If you want to Pray – Pray God changes your heart and do the work of surrendering to His ways.

If you want to Love – then let’s practice loves true definition found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Go watch the movie -  enjoy the omelet and spit out the shells.

The Empty Nest

For so many years our lives are consumed with the details of our children.

From school to sports, ministry to music, we plan, prepare and praise the development of our children.

Then one day those children disappear into adult form.  They choose spouses (hopefully that we like) and walk with confidence into their futures.  This is an emotionally overwhelming stage of life that requires a deeply rooted identity in more than just mothering.

Who were we before we got started in our parenting?

Who have we become through this raising of a generation?

Most importantly is the question – what new wonderful new adventure can we now embark on for being all the wiser in raising children?

Authority has been practiced.

Schedules have been juggled to perfection.

Nurturing has become an art.

Teaching skills sharpened, we are confidants, advocates, nurses, chefs and decision makers.

We have practiced grace, living on principles, and juggled budgets and raised world changers.

Our resume skills are endless.

There is a time to grieve but let it not be long because the party is just getting started.

Now it’s time to dust off our old nests, stretch our wings, extend our vision, and catch the wind.

Hope to meet many of you marvelous women in the air……………

What a two year old taught me about God.

I spent a week with my grand-daughter while her parents were away.  It’s been over 20 years since I’ve cared for a little one for more than an overnight visit.

Storie is now 2 years old.  She can walk and communicate in her precious limited way. Missing every few consonants of the words she uses and making me smile every time.  This age is such an incredible time of dependence.

As I spent time caring for her it became a study in discipleship as I watched her interactions with me – her Nana – her caregiver – the power figure in her world.

These are the scriptures that kept circling my mind as I watched her and knew she represents me as I represent God in this example.

Matthew 18:1-4

At that time the followers came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Jesus called a little child to him and stood the child before his followers. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child.

Here are a few illuminating factors I enjoyed discovering about childlike humility.

• Full participation in our relationship – Affection is the most enjoyable key ingredient in this relationship.  My affection for her is fully returned and it is the glue in every aspect of our relationship.  The smile that greets me as I scoop her out of her bed in the morning.  Her arms held out in anticipation of my embrace.  Somehow she knows that love connects us and that great things are coming.One of the sweetest aspects of our relationship is the pure delight that we share together.  Storie does understand to some extent maybe even better than I do the limits of her power without me.  She doesn’t use me for her agenda or try to have a whole day without me.  She delights in me as we journey throughout the day.  She loves my full attention and her discoveries are for my quick applause and affirmation.
• Surrender to my Power – Storie surrenders to my power.  My strength is used for her benefit as I carry her from room to room. Or room to car, and place to place.  She will be where I am, so that I can care, protect and benefit her.  She doesn’t fight my arms but readily anticipates being scooped up and brought close.  Trusting without thought or fear that I would deposit her to a place away from myself.  Even when she cannot see me, she can trust that I am not far and my voice comforts her.
• Trust that I am Good – Our relationship has been present in every moment of her life.  From the time she was delivered to this world as a premature   baby, my heart, my hands and voice have hovered over her.  She can trust without a complete intellectual understanding that all I have and all I am is for her benefit and good.  My love hovers like a fuzzy velor, warm blanket in her life.  A force of love though all she understands at this point is that I make things happen that are awesome. I ease discomfort and pain. I bring food and snacks and even CHOCOLATE. Which she delightfully calls chopate.  Even when she is mad that she can’t force me to do something that isn’t good for her, her only comfort is in my arms.  She turns to me for solace and not away.
• Allows me to teach her – Storie fully expects and appreciates my influence and instruction in her life that helps her become more proficient in her environment.  She studies my actions and repeats them with full concentration as she increases her motor skills and understanding of the world around her.

It’s been a great week. I’m thoroughly exhausted, (unlike God) and full of new insights.  Thank you my little love for teaching your Nana more about childlike humility.